At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure smooth operations of IT services for customs and international trade activities.
- Company: Join HMRC, a key player in the UK's customs strategy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Engage in continuous development and contribute to an exciting 2026 roadmap.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that keeps critical services reliable and visible.
- Qualifications: Strong problem-solving skills and awareness of monitoring tools required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
CDIO Borders and Trade supports the HMRC Borders and Trade group delivering IT projects that enable HMRC’s wider customs strategy and policies. We design, manage and maintain the IT services that support customs and international trade activities. The Applications Operations Engineer – Operations & Monitoring Guild Operator plays a key role in ensuring our systems run smoothly and efficiently. This position is responsible for managing and optimising monitoring solutions, driving proactive service support, and maintaining operational excellence.
You’ll work closely with service management teams and resolver groups to quickly address monitoring‑related incidents and issues, while also overseeing the administration of our reporting platform and single‑pane‑of‑glass operations tool. This is a hands‑on role where your expertise helps keep critical services reliable and visible across the organisation.
The role currently involves working a fixed rostered attendance pattern, this includes working weekends & public holidays with late and night shift working. The allowances depend on the rostered pattern but will be within the range of approximately 30% - 33%.
Key duties but not limited to:
- Monitoring & Alerting functions – Engagement with stakeholders regarding their monitoring requirements. Setting up of alerting on our monitoring services. Administration for existing monitoring at the application and server level. Performing analysis on existing alerting to ensure that thresholds are correct, and that future incidents and problems can be identified through trends in alert monitoring behaviour. Many of our services are monitored 24/7 365 days of the year. It is essential that quick action is taken to raise an incident so that resolution of the issue can be investigated and resolved to ensure acceptable service levels.
- Power Apps – While not essential, having prior experience with tools such as Power Apps, Power Automate, and Dataverse would be advantageous in helping shape and accelerate this work. Familiarity with integrating data sources, designing user‑friendly applications, and understanding governance within the platform would be beneficial. Knowledge of related capabilities like Power BI, custom connectors, or Azure services would also add value. Strong problem‑solving skills and an interest in learning and applying new technologies will be key as we develop this capability.
- Dynatrace – As part of our monitoring and alerting work Borders & Trade will be moving to a new tool for monitoring, alerting and observability. The team will take a key position in the use of this tool and onboarding observability for our services.
- Operations – The team have started work on the development and implementation of an expansive 2026 road map, this will look to expand on our work in the operations area, team members will contribute to this development and onboarding of new work. Training will be provided and it is expected that staff will engage with continuous development activities in order to ensure the successful delivery of the roadmap and its outcomes.
Essential Criteria
- Excellent problem‑solving skills.
- Able to demonstrate leadership and act as an effective team member.
- High standard of written and oral communication skills, and able to relay technical information to a variety of audiences.
- Awareness of Monitoring tools and concepts.
Benefits
- Alongside your salary of £35,423, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,262 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
- We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
- Pension – We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
- Family friendly policies.
- Personal support.
- Coaching and development.
Application Operations Engineer (Monitoring) employer: HMRC
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With flexible and hybrid working policies, generous leave allowances, and a commitment to continuous development, employees can thrive in their roles while contributing to vital customs and international trade initiatives. The opportunity to engage with cutting-edge monitoring tools and participate in the expansive 2026 roadmap further enhances the rewarding experience of being part of a dedicated team focused on operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Application Operations Engineer (Monitoring)
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research HMRC's customs strategy and their IT projects. This will help us tailor our conversations during interviews and show that we’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. This can give us insider info about the team and the work culture, plus it might just land us a referral!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to monitoring tools and problem-solving scenarios. We can even do mock interviews with friends to boost our confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we can keep track of our application status easily.
We think you need these skills to ace Application Operations Engineer (Monitoring)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Application Operations Engineer. We want to see how you can contribute to our monitoring and alerting functions, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects or tools you've used.
Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills:Since this role requires excellent problem-solving abilities, share specific examples in your application where you've tackled challenges effectively. We love seeing how you approach issues and what solutions you've implemented, especially in a tech environment.
Communicate Clearly:Your written communication skills are key for this position, so make sure your application is clear and concise. Use straightforward language to explain your technical knowledge and experience, as we need to know you can relay information to various audiences.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at HMRC!
How to prepare for a job interview at HMRC
✨Know Your Monitoring Tools
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of monitoring tools like Dynatrace and any experience with Power Apps. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in the past and how they can help improve operational excellence.
✨Showcase Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled complex problems in previous roles. Highlight your analytical skills and how you've used data to identify trends and prevent incidents, as this is crucial for the Application Operations Engineer role.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining technical concepts in simple terms. You'll need to relay information to various stakeholders, so being able to communicate effectively is key. Consider doing mock interviews with friends to refine your delivery.
✨Understand the Role's Roster Requirements
Familiarise yourself with the fixed rostered attendance pattern, including working weekends and nights. Be prepared to discuss your flexibility and willingness to adapt to these requirements during the interview.
